Remote automatic radio control



June 1, 1943. R. H. HILL REMOTE AUTOMATIC RADIO CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet lOriginal Filed June 28, 1938 3nnentor 71%? 92 912 22 June 1, 1943.

R. H. HILL REMOTE AUTOMATIC RADIO CONTROL 5 Sheets-Shet 2 Original FiledJune 28, 1958 6 a .I a 9 attorneys June 1, 1943. R. H. HILL 2,320,867REMOTE AUTOMATIC RADIO CONTROL Original Filed Jun e 28, 1938 sShets-Sheet 5 KIM 7 L Pww-aurro/v T MOTOR HOLD oonw c011. cwrcw SWITCHMAG/VET FROM SPEAKER FROM RAD/0 POWER 6 UP I III 3 r v Q 71 05571 975Q%7 SK Cittornegs i Patented June 1, 1943 REMOTE AUTOMATIC RADIO CONTROLRobert H. Hill, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich, a cornotation of Delaware Original application June 28,1938, Serial No.

216,301. Divided and this application December 19, 1940, Serial No.370,849

7 Claims.

This invention relates to control mechanism and more specifically toindex control mechanism wherein it is desired to stop a given rotatableshaft at predetermined set angular positions, and

suitable gear 42 on a parallel shaft 44.

in Figure 2, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is a rear view of the panel;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the camis a division of S. N.216,301, filed June 28, 1938, 5 shat and its associated controls takenon line in the name of Robert H. Hill and entitled "Re- 5 of Figure moteautomatic radio control." Figure 6 is aside elevation of the receivercase There are, of course, many instances and apa hin which the indexassemblyis located, parts plications in which it is desired to provideindex being broken away and shown in section:

control for rotatable means where a plurality of 10 Figure 7 is a frontelevation 01' the index asset angular index positions are desired and asone m 5;

example there might be mentioned radio receivhFiguzie gals an end dviewof the construction ing sets in which it is desired to automatically sown 11 sure n tune the set to different angular positions which Fi ure 9isa sch atic wirin d a am f the will provide reception of varioustransmitting sta- 15 Sy emca on an on y men one as an examp e e S or onemanner in whi h the m ht be ceiver 2 which houses the receiving set andalso applied. mechanism for tuning or indexing the tuning There are alsoinstances i hi h it is t shaft thereof. Connected thereto by suitablefeasible to mount the receiver or other device to Cables 4 is a loudpeaker 6 for emanating the eopera r. pa cuary rue e 0 W1 w o s o ecaseof a radio receiver mounted in a mobile vechemically vin the imin shaftand connecthicle her it may b necessary for purposes of ed to the outerend of the cable 8 is a conventional strength or space to mount thereceiver per se control 8- having tuhihg knob 4 and a at some di tancefrom th nt l meme volume control knob It as well as the indexing It astherei'oii e aggbiect or rrtiytaiglvention ttg 2 l l8 ra fi s 1 amsponfice w i th the provi e means or exing a to a e shaft lining e e s sow w s a on, or nt predetermined angular positions rather, whatfrequency ,is being received. Also t is a, further t of my invention toproconnected to the casing is a multiplewire cable vide automatic meansfor indexing such a shaft 20 which is connected a i o ter or remote endas iliiegcriibetiiitby the mere closure of a predeter- :2 1 s lz f gfigeg ri g u gilgfifez gwo swiklihisd m e crc opanes t is further object ofmy invention to and 22 may be combined into a combination convideautomatic indexing means for a shaft operh g h is ated from a remotedistance. e exmg n in per se comprises an It is a still further objectof my invention to v assembly Which m y be si nated gene lly aprovide-an automatic tuning means for indexing and 15 best Shown Figures5 d This a shaft wherein it is merely necessary to operate 40 assembly15 designed to fit within the case 2 of o a switch to close the circuitand the device will i receiver and is connected to drivethe tuning thencontinue through to its predetermined inz fi'g 32m g g gg fi z gsm g g gsi sag' dexing position.

With these and other objects in view, the emg gggz g g g g fi 5% isbodiments of my invention will be best understood p a g tending betweenthem-aspacing rod 34 which is by reference to the followingspecification and rigidly secured to each. There is also secfired glaimsthe IgIIIIIS-tI'atIODS in the accompanying. between the two a panel afor supporting var1 rawings, in w c ous pieces of the apparatus.Extending between Figure lshows adiagrammatic construction oi the twoend panels andv mummy mun-lulled a, radio receiver having my indexingmechanism therein is a'shaft a one end of which'rnameiy, inflectedthere, the right-hand end as shown in Figure 7, extends Figure 2 is anenlarged face view of a control through the end plate 30 and has securedthereto panel for the same; a gear wheel 49 which is adapted to meshwith a Figure 3 is a side elevation of the panel shown proceed back oneither form arms 80, said arms The shaft 44 is journalled in the mainhousing 2 and carries thereon at a slightly spaced distance from thegear wheel 42 a smaller gear 46 which is adapted to mesh witha gear 48driven by the rotating Bowden wire within the hollow cable 8 which, ofcourse, is driven initially by the manually tuned knob I4 on the housingI0. Mounted on the shaft '38 are a plurality of cam discs 50, each camdisc being mounted directly on a flanged ring 62, one side of theflanged ring having an indenture cut therein within which a dishedspring washer 56 is snapped and when in place tends to force the cam 50against the shoulder of the flange to maintain it in place. These camsare roughly of two different semi-circular radii, which may be best seenin Figure 5, with a notch such as I40 at one index position; otherwise,the outer surface is either a large radius such as I42 or asubstantially reduced radius such as I44.

Each of these flanged rings 52 upon which each cam is mounted has itsinner circular surface corrugated, as is the outer surface of the shaft48, so that it will turn therewith and not slip. There are providedbetween each of the rings 52 spacer sleeves 60 for locating the cams intheir correct position. In this way it will be seen that there isProvided a drive which will cause any one of the cams 50 to normallyturn with the shaft, but

which, under certain circumstances, will allow relative movement betweenthe two, inasmuch as the cam 50 may slide upon its ring 52. Any numherof these cams may be provided, the number depending entirely upon thenumber of different angular positions at which it is desired to stop theshaft. In this particular example eight of these cams are so provided.

Mounted upon the flanged upper surface 62 of the cross member 88' are aplurality of magnetic coils 64, one located in axial alignment with eachof the earns 50. The cross member 62 is also bent up to form a backingsupport 66 in which is provided a plurality of vertical slots 68, theupper portion of this plate being curved to form a substantiallysemi-circular groove. Extending across the assembly at this point thereis provided a shaft I0 which is parallel to the shaft; 88 upon which aremounted a plurality of circular spaced sleeves I2, the outer surfaces ofwhich are adapted to fit within the semi-circular portion of theextension 66, and attached to each of these sleeves is a forwardlyextending arm I4, the end of which is bent downwardly to form a tip 16cooperating with the cam surfaces of the cams 50. Also extending from adiametrically opposite point of each sleeve I2 is a short arm I8 whichextends back through a slot 68 and has its extremity connected to atension spring 80, the opposite end of which is connected to aprojection 82 extending.

outwardly from the member 66. It will thus be evident that each of thesearms I4 is. springbiased counterclockwise, as shown in Figure 5, ortoward its upper position away from contact with its cam 50.

In each arm I4 toward the front portion thereof there is screw-threadedinto the top surface a short stud 84 having therearound a coil spring86. These studs 84 are in alignment with each other across the width ofthe assembly and maintain under th heads thereof and adjacent the coilsprings a small transverse rod 88, the ends of which are bent at rightside of the assembly to being supported in holes through opposite endsof a cross rod 84, the ends of which are joumalled on pointed adjustablepins angles therewith and.

86 and 88. The adjustable pin 86 is locatedin the right-hand framemember 80, but the adjustable pin 88 is supported on an angular bracketI88 extending from the side frame 32 so that the end of the shaft 84projects through the frame 82 a short distance before it is supported onthe journailing pin.

There is rigidly clamped to this extension of the shaft 84 a shortswitching arm I02 for operating a switch mechanism later to bedescribed. The one end of the rearwardly extending arm 80 has supportedthereon a counter-balanced weight I04 to assist in raising the armature,the opposite arm on the other side of the shaft being secured to a shortcoil spring I06 for the same purpose. It will thus be evident that whenany of the arms I4 are attracted bythe associated relay 64 the camfollower I6 will be pulled toward the cam surface 50 and at the sametime the small cross shaft 88 will be pulled downwardly, operating theswitch arm I02. Of course the amount of depression will depend upon thelocation of the cam 50 which will depend upon its initial setting. Itmight also be pointed out at this time that the cross arm acts as a stopfor all the arms I4 in their retracted position since they arspring-biased upwardly.

Supported on a suitable bracket I08 below the bracket 36 is a smalldriving-motor I I0, shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. This drivingmotor through its shaft IIZ drives a small worm wheel II4 which engagesa gear wheel II6, said gear wheel having a long hub I I8 rotatablymounted on J a stub shaft I 20, said shaft I20 being journalled in asmall frame, the two portions I22 and I24 of which both extend upwardlyfrom the housing 2. Mounted adjacent the gear I I6 and also rotatablewith respect to the shaft I20 is a second angular plate I26 having pinsI28 therein which project into and cause it to rotate with the gear II6.Mounted on the shaft I20 there is next provided a small ring I30 securedto the shaft by a pin I82 and bearing axially against a ring of rollerbearings I84. Around the stationary ring I and around a portion of theangular ring I26 is a magnetic coil I36 supported on the side of theframe I 24 within a suitable housing I38. This whole mechanism, ofcourse, operates as a clutch and when the coil I86 is energized theangular ring I26 is attracted toward the right, as shown in Figure 6,and engages with a heavy frictional force against the ring I30 and socauses the shaft I20 to rotate with the gear II6. When the coil I86 isdeenergized, the gear H6 and its associated ring I26 may operateindependently of the shaft. To the shaft I20 there is rigidly connectedthe end of a suitable driving shaft extending through to a gear 48 andthe manual control knob I4.

Also supported on the end member 32 is an angled bracket I60 upon whichis mounted a plurality of flexible switch members I62 carried on aninsulating pin I64 and comprising switches I66 and I68, one terminal ofeach of these switches being common and carrying an extension arm I10,

the end of which is-adapted to contact with the of push buttons I80 mayproject. Within the housing and supported upon the insulated base by aseries of long threaded bolts I 82 and spacing sleeves I84 is a panelI88 substantially parallel with the top and base of the casing. Carriedupon this panel I88 is a circular magnetic hold coil I88 and securedover and enclosing the opposite side is an angular flanged ring I88. Thebase I88 has an upturned flanged edge I82 which surrounds the outer edgeof the housing within which the magnetic coil I88 is clamped.

The top of the angled bracket I88 is also provided with a series ofopenings in alignment with openings I18 in the housing and the base I88is provided with further aligned openings such as I88. Secured to eachpush button I88 is a shaft I88 which extends down and has secured to itslower end a reduced portion I88 which is iournalled in an opening in theinsulating base I18. The push button assembly is thus supported by thetop and bottom plates. Secured to the shaft I88 is an insulated sleevemember 288 which carries on its outer surface a contact member 288 inthe nature of a band for closing certain desired switch contacts.Secured to the insulating base adjacent each opening through which a rod.I88 projects are a pair of spaced spring contacts, such 'as-288,between which the rod is movable, and 'as the same is moved up or downeither an insulating portion 288 or the circular contacting ring 288 isplaced between the switch members 288 to complete or break theelectrical circuit therethrough.

Just below each push button there is a circular ring or band 288 on theshaft I 96 which is rigidly secured thereto and acts as an armature forthe magnet coil I88 in such a way that when the push button is depressedand the desired electrical circuit closed the magnet I88 is also placedin circuit as will be later described and its magnetic field maintainsthe push button in its depressed position until the set has reached itspredetermined condition. The construction of all of the push buttons is,of course, identical with any one described, and there is also securedin the central portion of the magnet a suitable light source 2l8' whichglows out through a circular opening 2. To the base there are alsosecured a number of contact bars or rings 2I22I8 for conducting currentto the necessary points,

Referring now specifically to Figure 13 which shows a circuit diagram ofmy invention, there is seen a number of push buttons I88A-F which closethe necessary switches and also a plurality of relay coils 88AF, saidrelay coils of course operating their flanged armatures I8AF andcooperating with their cams 88AF. There is also shown the push buttonhold-down coil I88 and the hold-down relay I52 which operates twoswitches I 88 and I 88, the first of which isin the speaker line andacts to cut oil the speaker from any energization, or mutes the same,and the second operates as a hold-in for power supply until the devicehas reached the end of its tuning cycle, which relay is shown in Figure6. There are also shown switches I88 and I88 operated by the arm I82which is turned by the spring rod 88 which extends across under theheads of the various bolts on the armature II. 'There is also shown inthis circuit diagram a. motor clutch magnet I88 and the motor II8.

In their normal desired deenergized condition all of the switches of theI88 series will be open, switch I88 will be closed, switch I58 75' frther switches actuated short distance so that the switch I88 is stillclosed and thus causes the energization of the upper half of the fieldcoil 228 and causes the motor to rotate in 'the shortest direction untilthe tip 188 will fall into the notch I 883. When the switch I883 isclosed to energize magnet 843, an obvious circuit is completed to thepush button hold-down coil I88 and to the hold-down relay I82 and.switch I18 to ground. The closure of the push button hold-down coilmaintains that particular push button in its down or closed positionuntil the circuit is deenergized and so it is not necessary for theoperator to continue to press on this button. The energization of thehold-down relay I82 opens the speaker circuit and closes the powersupply to the motor 8 opposite direction. When the tip I8 drops into athrough the obvious circuit so that the motor is energized and the motorclutch magnet conmeets the motor shaft with the tuning shaft so that thesame will be turned to tune the set and index the control camshaft.

As the camshaft is rotated to a point which will allow the tip 183 toenter the depression I 888, the arm I82 will be moved to such an extentthat the circuit through the field will be broken by removing th groundfrom switch I18, thus deenergizing the motor and the hold circuit. Itshould be noted that the particular tip 783 involved may contact eitherthe surface I88 having the .smaller radius of its attendant cam or thesurface I82 having the greater radius when,

it is attracted by the contact, and the distance that the armature I8 isallowed to move determines the direction of rotation of the motorthrough control of-switches I88 and I88. If one is closed the motor willrotate in-one direction, and if the other, the motor will rotate in thenotch I48, then the arml82 does not contact 0 the center member I18which moves away therefrom and breaks the circuit to the ground to stopthe mechanism. The same procedure would of course be identical if any ofthe otherswitches were depressed to tune in other pre-set stations,depending upon the position of the cams 88f'which cooperate therewith.

I claim:

1. In a control device, a shaft to be'indexed,

shaft, control means connected to said shaft comprising a plurality ofadjustable cams, followers for said cams, remotely positioned controlswitching means for the ,driving means, hold-in means for the latter-andswitching means operated by the followers for actuating the hold-inmeans for the remote switches.

2. In a control device, a shaft to be indexed, means fordriving saidshaft, a control shaft connected thereto, a plurality of cams adlustablymounted on said control shaft, followers for said cams, switching meanscotnrolling said driving 8 means operated by said followers, remotelypositioned control means for said driving means and by said followersfor maintaining said remote means in its actuated position.

3. In a control device, a shaft to be indexed,

at least one adjustable cam operatively connected 4. In a controldevice, a shaft to be indexed, a

control shaft connected thereto, means to drive the shafts, a pluralityof cams frictionally mounted in axially spaced relation on the controlshaft, a plurality of pivoted followers for the cams, spring-biasingmeans for maintaining the followers out of contact with the cams,magnetic means for moving the followers into contact with the cams,means operated by movement of any of the followers to control thedriving means, remotely positioned means controlling the magnetic meansand further magnetic means to lock the remotely positioned means inactuated position until a circuit is broken by the cam-operated means.

5. In a control device, a shaft, adjustable cam means mounted on saidshaft, follower means for said cams, driving means for said shaft,remotely positioned means for urging said followers toward said cams andswitching means operated by said follower movement to control both thedriving means and the position of the remote means.

6. In a control device for indexing a shaft, driving means connected tosaid shaft, cam-operated switching means controling said driving means,remote means for controlling said camoperated switches and hold means atthe remote means operated by further cam-operated switches whereby oncethe remote means has been actuated it will remain in engagement untilthe device has completed its index cycle.

'7. In a control device, a shaft to be indexed,

a plurality of adjustable cams operatively connected to the shaft, aplurality of followers cooperating with said cams, switching meansactuated by said followers, driving means for said shaft controlled bysaid switching means, springbiasing means to urge the followers awayfrom their associated cam surfaces, magnetic means to overcome thespring bias and maintain the followers in contact with the cams,remotely positioned switching means controlling the magnetic means,furthermagnetic means at the remotely positioned means to maintain eachoperated switch in its closed position when energized and additionalswitching means operated by the follower means controling said furthermagnetic means.

ROBERT H. HILL.

